I received an email from Rick Warren and Pastors.com last night.  Here's how it begins:

Dear friends,

I recently created a short video to explain exactly what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ and posted it on our Purpose Driven Web site.  It's a simple presentation you can pass on to anyone you care about.

Rick goes on to provide a couple of links to the video, along with an encouragement to use them in a number of ways.

Here's the video:
Download salvation_low.wmv

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Watch it and then post your thoughts.  I'd like to hear your response.

Blessings.

Contemplative Youth Ministry is refreshing rain for dry youth workers and barren youth ministries.  More than the same old youth ministry tips and tricks, it gives principles and practices to soak in God's grace, love, and power.  I wish I had read it 15 years ago." -- Kara Powell, Ph.D., executive director, Center for Youth Ministry and Family Ministry, Fuller Theological Seminary (dust jacket endorsement)

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I recently finished reading Mark Yaconelli's Contemplative Youth Ministry: Practicing the Presence of Jesus (Zondervan, 2006), and have to say that it was one of the most inspiring and hope-filled books about ministering to students I have ever read.

Modern notions of "youth ministry" have consistently pr oven to be a miserable failure for four decades now, and all too many churches continue to hire youth ministry professionals whom they expect to "build" well-attended youth programs.  In so doing, we continue -- in effect --  to amputate the youth from the rest of the body, the church.  We cut them off from the adult population of our congregations and send them to "the youth group", and then wonder why they're not interested in attending church once they graduate from high school.

In the book's introduction, Mark quickly identifies the root problem:

"The real crisis facing those of us who seek to share faith with youth is this:

• We don't know how to be with our kids.

• We don't know how to be with ourselves.

• We don't know how to be with God." (p. 19)

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Ouch! 

But he's right.   We've known for the longest time that most of what students learn is "caught" rather than "taught."  As a former Christian educator, I often encountered the statistic that 80% of what students learned came, not from what their teachers taught, but from who their teachers were.  If we yearn for our youth to become fully devoted followers of Jesus, then they need to spend time with adults (and older peers) who are themselves fully devoted followers of Jesus.  And that's exactly what Mark draws out and then develops in his book.

Well documented with statistical data and well-rounded with the personal experiences of students and youth leaders around the country, Contemplative Youth Ministry is primarily written for adults and church leaders who are interested in breaking away from the "norm" and desiring to minister to students in a way that is fresher, deeper, and ultimately -- more fruitful.

"Changing the way we relate to young people isn't just a matter of developing new techniques or broadening our theology.  It's about a different attitude of the heart.  It's about being present to young people with a loving transparency.  We're seeking to see teens with the eyes of Jesus, hear teens with the hears of Jesus, and perceive teens with the heart of Jesus." (p. 79)

Mark also effectively articulates how many churches still approach youth ministry more as a reaction to their anxiety over youth, rather than letting love be their motivation. He offers the following telling comparisons:

It seems that pastors are always getting snail-mail spam.  But when this beauty passed through my mailbox, I just started shaking my head and thinking: "Are there still people out there who are still using this stuff?!?" Amazing.

I'd like to think we've come a long way since the days of "evangelizing-by-handing-out-witnessing-tracts."  But maybe in today's rapidly changing postmodern world, the pendulum is swinging and tracts are coming into vogue again.  Naw!  I must just be having a nightmare.

Letting the seeker... sin -- it's one of the most difficult challenges facing Evangelicals who have committed themselves to the paradigm of belonging before believing.  We read in the gospels how Jesus shared the intimacy of table fellowship with sinners, but often find it strangely difficult to go and do likewise.  Why? Because, in part, the evangelical tradition is one of emphasizing right behavior, even before right belief -- especially prominent among churches out of the holiness tradition, including pentecostal and charismatic groups.

By suggesting that we must "let the seeker sin," I am not saying that we should endorse, excuse, or  embrace sin.  Sin is a powerfully destructive force, ruining not only one's own life, but wreaking havoc in one's family, one's circle of acquaintances, and even society. I am, however, suggesting that we must learn how to be with seekers -- resisting the urge to judge or demean them for their choices and lifestyle -- but instead, extend a heartfelt welcome to all people, inviting them to be our friends and to begin exploring with us (for we are ALL sinners) a life of following Jesus Christ.

In The Celtic Way of Evangelism: How Christianity Can Reach the West...Again, George Hunter III draws attention to the role of "hospitality" within the missionally-minded monastic communities of St. Patrick, his successors, and others:

In nearly all cases, "the movie" is never as good as "the book." And this weekend's debut of The DaVinci Code is no exception.  And for a movie by Ron Howard starting Tom Hanks, I certainly expected a much more captivating movie than what viewers encountered.  In fact, several folks exiting the theatre where I saw the long-anticipated film were commenting about several sections that they "didn't get", that didn't make any sense to them.  And so it seems that the DaVinci Code was more of a DuhVinci Code.

In the movie, the fictional material from Dan Brown's best selling novel took up as a primary concern, the calling into question of the divinity of Jesus Christ.  Jesus was extraordinary human being, but a human being nonetheless.  And that Christianity's long defended claim to the divinity of Christ was nothing more than the politically expedient strategy of Rome's pagan emperor, Constantine.  The Council of Nicea was depicted as a puppet-council, controlled completely by Constantine for his own purposes, and who stealthily quieted all contrary voices (by execution).

The quest around which the movie is based is the search for "the chalice" of Christ -- not a cup, but the body (and womb) of Mary Magdalene -- the wife of Jesus Christ and the bearer of his child (which began a sacred bloodline that continues through present day).

For many followers of Christ, consipuously absent from Dan Brown's (and Ron Howard's) presentation of the origins of Christianity, is the resurrection. For the reader (and the movie goer), the attention is placed instead on the long-dismissed myth that Jesus' descendants are still living among us in the 21st century, and clearly suggests that Mary Magadalene -- representing the pagan notion of "the divine feminine" -- is worthy of humanity's veneration and worship.

Dan Brown is a terrific writer, and I have long enjoyed reading his books.  I number myself among the scores of believers who see the popularity of The DaVinci Code as 1) evidence that today's culture values spirituality, but is suspicious of institutionalized Christianity, and 2) a unique opportunity to dialog with people about the scriptures, Jesus, and the early church.  However, I thought the movie was a little boring, and a little lacking in substance.  For example, in the book, Dan Brown spends a good deal of time discussing the "other" gospels which never made it into the New Testament cannon -- the "sources" which the movie references and claims as historically accurate.  The book deals with this a bit more straightforwardly whereas the movie seems to skirt some of these issues, thus creating "gaps" in the movie's plot.  This makes it a little difficult for viewers to follow (something confirmed by people I talked to after they saw the movie). I hope that this doesn't end up hurting the "conversation" that we -- as followers of Jesus -- could potentially have with people around us who may be critical, curious, or confused about Jesus, the bible, or Christianity. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

My recommendation concerning the movie?  Wait and rent the DVD.

The church that I pastor is currently searching for someone to serve full time as our Pastor of Children and Student Ministries. 

The challenges -- ten years ago -- that middle school students were facing, are now very real issues with intermediate aged children and even younger.  'Old school' children and youth ministries are no longer relevant. We are therefore looking for an experienced leader to envision and implement a strategic and coordinated team effort to multiply disciples, leaders, and groups with the children and youth in our congregation and in our city.  If you or someone you know is interested, I can be contacted here for more information.

Oh. And we would greatly appreciate your prayers that God will guide us in these matters.  Thanks!

What happens when one's family of faith isn't much of a family?  What I'm suggesting by such a question is that it is possible for the family of God -- the body of Christ, the Church -- to live in ways that are inconsistent and/or in conflict with it's very nature and design as a "family."

"Then, even if I am delayed, you will know how to live in the family of God. That family is the church of the living God, the support and foundation of the truth." 1Tim. 3:15 (NCV)

Seems to be that:
Your family of faith isn't much of a 'family' when...

• No one asks you what kind of [day or] week you've had.
• No one reaches out to you when you're hurting.
• Everyone tends to 'do their own thing.'
• Pet projects are more important than people.
• Quibbles aren't easily forgiven or forgotten.
• There's an absence of parenting, grandparenting, and older siblings helping younger ones.
• Scheduled times of celebration are poorly attended.
• The desire to experience 'community' elsewhere is common.
• No one is knocking down the doors to get in!

This list is one which I'm sure can be greatly expanded, AND (of course) be commented upon.  So please, have at it!

In a highly individualistic society which is riddled with fractured families and broken homes, it has become increasingly easy for God's own family (wherever it's expressions are found) to slip into a similar mindset. We long for authentic community, but often don't know how to act like a healthy family.  All too often, we live for ourselves rather than for others. Yet despite our handicap, we remain -- in fact -- the very family of God.  I'm sure that many of you reading this post are profoundly grateful to God for his family and the difference they have played in your life. Others of you, I am sure, have been profoundly wounded by God's family, and my heart goes out to you.  In either case, the family of God is here to stay -- for good or for bad.  And I, for one, have committed my life to helping it be as great a force for good as possible.

With that in mind, perhaps my next question needs to be: What happens when one's family of faith becomes an extraordinarily healthy family?

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Photo Credit: Google Images

You've probably heard it a thousand times before, but it remains as true as ever:

We live in an extraordinarily fast-paced society, obsessed with the multiplicity of choices, instant access to just about everything, and the freedom to multi-task 'til our heart's delight.  Our time, our schedules, and our stress levels are frequently close to "overloading," yet we do relatively little to remedy the imbalance. 

Even as "people of faith", we frequently busy ourselves with a wide range of spritual and religious activities: we read about God, we talk about God, we write about God; we may even sing songs and pray prayers to God, but how often do we break away and simply be with God? Yes, there is a sense in which we are always with God.  I am not calling his immanence into question here, or in any way wanting to trivialize the sacredness to be seen in all of life.  However, just as it is possible for you and I to be with a person without really being with them, so it is that many of us are commoused to being with God without really being with him.

Most of us rarely slow down long enough for our internal RPM's to drop down far enough for us to reach "idle" -- that place where we are still and quiet enough to not only be with God, but able to clearly hear God and then move on to be renewed and transformed.

I am convinced that most of us want to spend more time with God, but end up not doing so for one reason above all others:

This will certainly go down as one of the most memorable May Day's in our nation's history, as hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants and sympathizers walk out of their jobs and peaceably march in protest against pending immigration law reform efforts currently underway.

CNN's Larry King poignantly raised the question during his broadcast today:  "Since we are a Judeo-Christian nation, shouldn't we be talking about forgiveness in all of this?"

And so, what role SHOULD forgiveness play in the national debate over illegal immigration?  Should those presently on this side of the border illegally be forgiven and allowed to stay, earning their citizenship?  Should business owners be forgiven for their illegal hiring practices?  Should certain staunch nationalists be forgiven for their racist rhetoric and actions?

As people of faith, how should we respond?

** This space has been provided to dialog about 'Blog-within-a-Blog' topics posted during the month of May **